Media Alerts

Today, in a vote of 10-13 in the Senate Finance Committee, the Hatch Amendment #C14 was defeated. The amendment would have explicitly prohibited federal funding and coverage of abortions. The Committee also voted down an amendment by Senator Hatch that would have prevented discrimination against any individual or entity who refused to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.

Today is a critical day in the health care reform battle as the U.S. Senate Finance Committee considers several pro-life amendments filed by Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch that would prevent government funding for abortion and assisted suicide, and preserve current conscience laws for health care workers and providers.

Americans United for Life (AUL) today released their 2009 State Legislative Session Report. This year’s report confirms that the majority of states continue to successfully pursue and implement a life-affirming legislative agenda.

Americans United for Life’s President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest said, “We initially were encouraged to hear that this version of the health care reform will ban federal subsidies for abortion. However, this bill provides $6 billion for the establishment of health insurance cooperatives which would be permitted to cover abortion.

Americans United for Life’s sister organization Americans United for Life Action will relay the pro-life community’s deep concerns about health care reform directly to the White House this Thursday, September 17.

Today, Americans United for Life, the nation’s oldest national pro-life organization, launched its “Back to the Hill” campaign to educate lawmakers and Americans on the current health care proposals’ threats to the lives of the elderly, ill, and unborn.

In his address to a Joint Session of Congress this evening, President Obama repeated his claim that “no federal dollars will be used to fund abortion.” However, he failed to commit to supporting language that explicitly prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars for abortion.

“We are shocked by this morning’s tragic news that a pro-life demonstrator was gunned down in front of a Michigan high school. We call for a full investigation into the matter and expect that the person or persons who committed this terrible act will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

This week, the Montana Supreme Court heard arguments in a case which could make Montana the first state to legalize assisted suicide – and even active euthanasia – by judicial fiat, without the involvement or consent of the state legislature or the people of Montana.